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Thread: Free Floating

  1. #11
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    High speed cameras open our eyes to vibration/harmonics big time, in all things, not just firearms. Watch an AK get shot on the highspeed, it is worse.

  2. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by shadow65 View Post
    What got me thinking was a video I saw of a rifle being fired in slow motion. The barrel whip was unbelievable. My simple mid can't wrap around a barrel moving that much and being as accurate as a stationary one.
    I talked with my buddy that went through sniper school. He explained the harmonics, vibration, ect...
    I know that's the way it is, so I'll just take it as that.
    As long as the barrel moves the same way after every shot. This is why a free float rail is nice to have. No matter how you hold the gun (prone, standing, resting against something, bipod, etc.) or if you add accessories to the handguard, the barrel has the same forces acting on it and is more consistent.
    Dustin

  3. #13
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    This will be clear as mud....

    The reason why a bedding pad at the end of the barrel channel on the stock makes rifle more accurate at times is because the stock is very, very flexible. As the barrel whips, the stock also whips. On flimsy stocks, the stock whips into the barrel. The whip is inconsistent causing a change from shot to shot due a number of factors. By bedding it, whether its actual epoxy or other bedding compound (which should be less temperature sensitive than the wood or plastic material), it applies constant pressure on the barrel, reducing, to a degree, impact of the whip.

  4. #14
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    That makes perfect since. It was a Houge over molded stock. Very flimsy.
    Independent Field Testing/R & D

    Better to die for something than live for nothing

  5. #15
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    Would there be any benefit to tensioning the barrel in some way? Like they do with .50 cal. MA2 ?
    When injustice becomes law, rebellion becomes duty. Thomas Jefferson


  6. #16
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    Yes....Volquartzen has tension barrels (for the 10/22) that are very accurate, but they are also free floated when in the stock. The old Dan wesson revolvers had them and some of the new S&W Shrouded Barrel Revolvers use them too.

    One of the reasons that benchrest shooters play with overall length in minute increments (0.005) is that they are trying to hit the lull in the barrel vibration as the bullet exits (top or bottom of the extreme travel). At that point, the barrel stops moving for a microsecond before switching direction. If the bullet exits in the middle of the vibration/barrel sine wave, the muzzle is moving its fastest, and you get inconsistent groups.

    As you touch a barrel, you affect the harmonics diferently every time, so your groups will be inconsistent (many factors affect the degree of change). If you have a free float handguard you can't affect the barrel harmonics, and you allow the barrel to work its best. OAL still plays a part, but if you are buying your ammo, you are stuck with whatever OAL the factory uses. If you handload, you might be able to improve your groups.
    Last edited by 5shot; 08-05-10 at 11:21.

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